It was a very rocky and rolly night. Things fell of shelfs and we were tossed around in our cots. I got up at 5:30 this morning as we pulled up to our first island, Suanders Island, part of West Falklands. Two new birds, the Rock shag and another shag (blue eyed) that i managed to get a picture of. But the real treat was the tiny little Commerson dolphins.
The sun was mostly out and the waves were fairly low. But as the morning progressed, so did the swells.
Actually, trying to write this is pushing my little zapper to the limit. We are currently in hurricane force winds as we lunge toward the next island. I have to stop here for now.
Now it is October 31. We are on our second sea day after the Falklands. It is rough. I think swells of 8-10 meters! The waves are coming up and over our little porthole.
Anyway, back to the Falklands on Oct 28.
We were supposed to have our first landing in Saunders Island. Penguins on the beach, lots of birds etc. But the swells were too high to launch the zodiacs. So, no Saunders Island, our first landing cancelled. Very disappointing. We did see those Commerson's Dolphins bowriding on the way to the island.
But we pressed onto Westpoint Island, also just off West Falkland Island. The weather improved enough for us to zodiac over. Our first zodiac landing. Very exciting, and nerve racking. I don't want to tell you any secrets but I'm not the most graceful and getting into and out of a zodiac takes some coordination.
We had signed up to zodiac groups. Amy, Julie and I are in Adelie group. We were the first ones called. Julie was on Zodiac one (the young are speedy) and Amy and I were on the second one launched. West Point is a small island owned by someone with a caretaker family running the show. They met us as we landed. They had a small dock so we didn't have to disembark into the water (wet landing) but we did get a lot of spray going over. I didn't dare take out my camera so no zodiac photos
but here is some photos as we came into harbour (if you can call it a harbour)
Our goal, hike over a hill to the other side of the island to see a rockhopper penguin and black-browed albatross colony. In full kit, and rubber boots. No problem.
I was waylaid immediately but all of the geese! With goslings!
Amy had long ditched me by the time I took a million photos of the shore birds. I can see why everyone is so diligent about the biosecurity with Avian flu about. There was goose poop everywhere. If you step on one island and then onto another, without a thorough boot scrubbing, you are going to spread whatever is around to spread.
Up the hill, such beautiful views!
And more birds of course
Finally, up and over the hill and down a very muddy path, up onto a tussock hump to see the rockhoppers and albatross!
Then back to the other side of the island. It was a longer walk than advertised and I swear it was uphill both directions. There was a full English tea at the end but Amy and I missed the turn and we didn't want to go back up the hill to find it so, we missed tea.
The zodiac back was calm until we got to the side of the ship. There were 2 meter swells. Which is not much but the zodiac is anywhere from a meter or more below or a meter or more above the landing. It takes some major coordination to step, step and then hit the landing as the waves it the exact right spot in relation to the landing. I didn't die but it probably wasn't pretty.
By the time we got all of our layers off and back to our cabin, I was spent. My legs were wobbly from the hike and the tensing on the zodiac. I can't imagine if we had done the first landing on the same day. Hiking in rubber boots is not easy. I don't even remember if I went up to dinner.
Side note. I am writing this in the lounge. It is so rocky and rolly, people are arriving and careering all over the place. The bottles behind the bar are rattling around. One person has crashed to the ground but so far, no bottles. It's hard to keep your eye on the horizon when it is above the window, then below, above, below ad nauseum (pun intended). I have to take a break but I'm worried I won't get through the Falklands before we get to South Georgia. But i don't want barf in the lounge so it's a risk I'm going to have to take.
Later, some more photos, just for good measure
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